Once a Husky, Always a Husky

UConn Students Need You!!

Re-engaging School of Pharmacy alumni

As a UConn alumni, I cheer for the Huskies in all sports, brag about the Huskies and bash our rivals (don't even get me started on the old UConn-Duke basketball rivalry), attend UConn hockey, soccer, and basketball games with my family, bring my daughter to the Dairy Bar (Husky Tracks!!!), attend plays at Jorgenson, find excuses to make another trip to the UConn Co-Op for more UConn paraphernalia, hold dear to my heart the friends I made at UConn (and never forget to send a Christmas card even if I have not seem them in years), remember all the great times I had a UConn, look at the window to my old dorm room whenever I drive past, look at old photos from UConn and reminisce, and even rub the nose of the Jonathan statue for good luck. How many of you who are UConn pharmacy alumni can relate to that???

Yet, until I came back to UConn as a faculty member, I never gave back to the UConn School of Pharmacy. Can you relate to that too?? Why?? Why do we treasure all things UConn but never try to be a part of the school that gave us so much? Why do we never want to help the current students to grow into pharmacists and researchers that will make us proud that they are UConn alumni and members of our profession?

Within the UConn School of Pharmacy, alumni services fall under the umbrella of the Office of Academic Affairs. Therefore, I think often about the incredible pharmacists and researchers who have graduated from the school. In particular I think about how much our current students could gain from these graduates. No, I am not referring to donations of money...although the school would be thrilled to receive monetary donations, especially given the current economic environment in the state. What I think the students would really benefit from is the knowledge and experience of UConn's graduates. There is so much knowledge that can not be taught in school and only gained through time.

Because I believe this, the Pharmacy LEADERS Track has a mentoring/networking program in which each track member is connected with an alumnus or other individual associated with the school. The student and mentor get to know each other through emails, phone calls, and/or visits. The feedback from the students has been very positive about this opportunity to network with these alumni. I also developed the Leadership and Latte series, similar to the Lunch and Learn events, which bring leaders in pharmacy to the school to share their knowledge, experience, and thoughts on leadership with the students monthly. Many an alum has been cornered after the event by a student or two or ten who want more information.

Yet, these networking and learning opportunities only reach a small population of students. Every student would benefit from the wisdom of our alumni!! Please do not think that you would not have anything to offer current pharmacy students. Please do not think that you won't get anything out of it personally. They need you and you need them!! For many years, alumni volunteers have participated in the Pharmacy Communications course, giving their guidance on patient counseling skills. Believe me when I tell you that the students and alumni benefit equally. Do you think these volunteers would give a day per week for an entire semester to come to the school if they were not benefiting from the experience??

You do not need to spend time in the classroom or give large amounts of time in order to provide benefit to the school and the students. We are always looking for alumni who are interested in serving as preceptors, serving as mentors, serving as speakers to student groups, serving on advisory boards, helping with recruitment, attending alumni events...if you can dream it, our students will love it!!

Once a Husky...Always a Husky! Come be a part of UConn today, tomorrow, and always!!!